I am trying to install mandrake but when I try to use the existing space on windows partition I am told the partition is too fragmented. So I run defrag in windows restart and try installing mandrake again only to get the same error message. Is there any special techniques or software I can use to install the OS.

What type of Linux install are you trying to "put on the Windows partition"?
Linux is normally installed to it's own partition, unless you are using the uncommon "run from Windows" option (my first Linux install was Mandrake 6.5, Linux for Windows).
I guess if your hard drive is fairly well filled you could get errors even if it seems there is room.

I am trying to install mandrake 9.1 but i am not trying to add it to the windows partition I am trying the option that allows me to create new partitions from the free space on the existing windows partition.

Oh, and it is complaining that it cannot create the new partition due to fragmentation on the existing partition.
What size is your hard drive and how much is already used?

My HD size is 30GB and i have used around 16GB. I am currently trying a deep scandisk do you think that this will help?

There would appear to be plenty of room on your hard drive, and I would think that a completed defrag would be all that is required. Is the defrag really completing? You have shut down running programs and it runs till it says it is completed?
The only other things I can think to check are for "gotchas" with either Mandrake or the partition resizer they use.

P.S. What version of Windows?

I have completed defragmentation several times and I reboot the system immediatly after and there are no running programs. I have tried several different forms of reboot in case windows is changing the hard drive while shutting down but this does not seem to be helping.
I'll try defragmenting again after the deep scan disk operation but if that fails would you reccomend a new hard drive?
Sorry im a newbie what is a "gotcha"?

A gotcha is just a weird glitch or little know problem.
It's a gotcha because "they got you on that one".

It sounds like you are doing things correctly. I am out of ideas.
Someone else may have some further thoughts about this.

Thanks for the help but i anyone else reads this message please feel free to add your own ideas.

Didn't know mandrake would resize your partitions for you, learnt something new

My advice would be use something like partition magic (proprietary software grrrrrrrr) to resize your windows partition first, to make space for linux, then install in the empty unpartitioned space.

Assuming your windows partition is formated as fat32, you can use "fips" to non-destructifally split your partition. It's a dos tool, so you will have to be in real dos mode.
Fips won't work if you are using ntfs. But I don't think you are.

Hi Boffy

>>> I am trying to install mandrake 9.1 but i am not trying to add it to the windows partition I am trying the option that allows me to create new partitions from the free space on the existing windows partition. <<<<

Are you sure you've got free space on your hard drive? Linux needs to go in its own partition - not on the free space in a pre - existing Windows partition. Are you talking about Win 98se or XP?
If its Win98se - put in a Windows boot floppy and boot then type fdisk at the prompt - I think its option 4 in the menu to check the current partitions on your hard drive - check to see that you've definately got that free space on your hard drive - If your talking Win98se adn youve definately got that free space on your hard drive then you shouldnt have any problems with Mandrake. If its XP your using beware of Linux and ntfs - I'd use fat32 for XP with Linux

I have solved the problem all that was needed was to defragment the disk using norton speed disk.

Great! I hope that is the only problem you have with your install.

Hi guys, i had the same problem with Mandrake 9.1, and i resolved it only desabling the "page file" of windows, you can see it when you defrag, some green blocks at the end of the windows partition that cant be moved, that is the page file, the cause of your problem dude. Just desable it in the Control Panel/System and then try to partitionate in Mandrake again, then after the partitioning you can enable the page file again
I hope i resolved your question, thx